Eyeshield



Feb. 13, 1951 GROVE 2,541,242

EYESHIELD Filed April 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ORVILLE A.GROVE ATTORNEYS 0. A. GROVE Feb. 13, 1951 EYESHIELD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 11, 1950 INVENTOR. g DRVILLE A.GROVE W/ ATTOQN EY PatentedFeb. 13, 1951 UNITED STAT E ESHIELD Orville A. Grove,':Long. Beach,Calif.

Application April 11, 1950, S eri alLI 9,1 5,124!

' 8 Claims; (01. 2r1=3) This invention relates to eye shields and moreparticularly to an improved one-piece adjustable, eyeshield attachableto a conventional-pair of a se e a f :f

Itis among the objects of the invention to pro-' vide an improved eyeshield of simplified, unitary construction which: can be quickly andeasily installed on' conventional eye-glasses or specta cles, whichshield is easily adjustable to cover any desired portion of the field ofvision of the wearer and may befpositione'd in 'front of the eyestocover the entire fieldof visio 'nor entirely above and to the sides 'ofthe eyes to modify light from above and to the rear of the eyes, isformed of a flexible, light-weight material so that it causes nodiscomfort or fatigue and may be'forme'd of transparent material inorder not to obscure any part of the field of vision'of' the wearer andmay be colored or otherwise constructed to modify the light reaching theeyes, will fit eye-glass or spectacleframes-of various shapes and sizes,and is 2 ing' a still further modification of frame attachneat andattractive in appearance and extremely economical to manufacture.

The material of the shield maybe transparent and suitably-colored tofilter out the glare from sunlight or bright artificial lights, or'maybe translucent or opaque, as conditions may require. 1

Other objects and advantages will becdme apparent from a considerationof the following description and-the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, whereini Figure 1 is a perspective view of ahuman head withan eye-glass and eye shield assembly worn thereon;- v cFigure 2 is a transverse medial cross-section of the-eye-glass and eyeshieldassembly;

:Figure 3 is a developmentview of theeye shield;

Figure 4 is a development of a somewhat modifled-form of eye shield; a

Figure 5 is a development view of a further modified form of eye shield;s

Figure-6 is a perspective view ofa humanhead wearinganassembly-comprising an' eye shield ands special carrying frametherefor;

Figure '7 isamedial transverse cross-section of Figure 10 is adevelopment-view of an additional modified form of eye shield;

Figur'e ll is adevelopment view ofa still different modification of theeyeshield "Figuref1:2' is an inner side elevation oi a frag mentary endportion ofan eye'shield showing a:

modifiedformo'f aframe attaching means;

Figure 13' is a view similar to FigurelZshow-w mg means;

Figure li' i's'a View similarto Figures 12 and 13 showing a furthermodified form of frame attaching means:

Figure" 15 is a transverse cross-section on the line l5-"l5 of Figure12;

Figure 16 is a transverse cross-section on the line l6l 6' ofFigure 13;and,

Figure 17 is a transverse cross-section on the line lh-ll ofFigure.14;"'-

With "continuedreference to-the drawings, and particularly to Figures ,1to 5 inclusive, the numeral l0 generally indicates a pair of eye-glassesor spectacles having lenses H and aframe includinglens rings I:2,;-abridge or nose piece l3 andtemple-barsl4 each-hinged at one end totheouter edge of acorresponding lens ring of the fra-me.- The templebars are conventionally provided-at their opposite ends with ear hooksor inwardly curved flattened r pads to'engage the headof the wearer backof "the-ears to hold the glasses in proper-position iii-frontof theeyes. These eye-glasses or spectaclesare of conventionalconstruction-and: constitute-no part of the present inventionrexcept intheoperative assembly thereof-with the novel eye shield generallyindicated at l5.

' e, shield l5 comprises a piece of thin, flexible transparent sheetmaterial such as a suitable synthetic resin plastic, a cellulose'acetatematerial or material of-any othersuitable composition, and is preferablycolored or otherwise manufactured'fin a manner to filternthe light raysof tlie si1nand' protect the eyes of the wearer from lar .c a a Theshield has substantially parallel inner and outer edges l 6 ..an d Iand, in the form illustrated on FiguresB, to inclusive, and Figure 9,has roundedend portions l 8 which extend inwardly of the inner edge 15at the opposite ends of .the latter' making the shield, generallyreniform in plan. When the shield isfapplied to a supporting frame, suchas an eye glass'irame as illustrated in Figures 1 and ,2, it 'islongit'udinally curvedto a bowed n em 1' a Suitablemeans are provided:near each end of the shiel'df'or attaching the shield to the frame ofthe eyeglasses l0 and suchmeans conveniently comprise pairs of slits orcuts disposed one pair near each end of the shield, the correspondingtemple bars I4 if the eye'glass frame being extended through the pairsof'slits to, secure the shield to thesupportingtrame. e r

In the forms of the shield illustrated in Figures 1 to 5'-iri clusive,the temple bar receiving s1it's2ll and 2 I' ineach endportion' I8"ofthe' shield are" disposed at acute angles "to the'longitudinal extentor the longitudinal center line of thepiece of materia l constituting1th; l shield? ;The slit :0

adjacent the corresponding end of the shield is between permits the useof one s of s d for longer than the corresponding slit 2| and the tglasses or frames of different sizes so that t IS slits of each pair areinclined relati t a h necessary to manufacture only one sizeof shield.other diverging in a downward direction when The three m fi t ons f theeye sh eld illusthe shield is in operative position; as illustratedtrailed in Figures a a d are all h ar in Figure 1. This provides betweenthe t lit general construction. The shield shown in Fig- 2| and 2B ofeach pair a portion 22 of trapezium Lire 3 being Of medium Width andhavmg shape separated at its ends from the material of Stant ally straigt inner and Outer d p i the shield by the corresponding slits 2D and 2|generally parallel to each other. The sh eld the ends of thi ortionbeing disposed t difshown in Figure 4 is narrower than the shield ferentangles to the longitudinal extent ofthe Shown in Figure 3 t0 Cover 8; ppflr t y shield and the end nearest the corresponding end Smaller p Ofthe pp portion of t W mf of the shield being longer th t onnositgmdfield of vision and has its front edge provided to render the shield djut l on t eyeglass with two adjacent concave recesses to enable the frameupon which it is mounted. The angles be- 5 Shield to fit ermmd the upperportions of the t tween the end portions 22 and the longitudinal lensframes of a i f e ses eld center line of the shield may be varied withinshownuin Figure 5 Wide! than the Shleld of reasonable limit 1intermediate width shown in Figure 3 and has a To mount th eve hi l on tframe of a nail. substantially straight forward edge 23 which is ofeyeglasses the shield-is bent over the too of the generally Parallel tothe inner edge but Spaced glasses, s s a y illustrated in Figure 1, andoutwardly therefrom a distance greater than the I each temple bar ispassed through the slit as in distance between e inner n Outer edges Itthe corresponding end of the shield and then and H m the form shown InFlgure 3, the

through t t go so t t t temnle bar is rounded end portion I8 of the formshown in posed between the Dori-lion 22 and the dq t 5 Figure5 beingextendedoutwardly so that their portions of the shield, the portion 22constituting edges curve smoothly Into the outwardly-exavpocket fo thepOrtiOn'Of-the temple a tended outer edge 24 of the shield shown intending thereacross. l t The length of the'siits 2c and ti permits adFlgure 6 1S slmtlar to Figure except that justinent of the shield infront of the eyeglasses 0 the arrangement 1 11u$ trated in l 5 h PF orsupporting frame between a po ition in which e erally indicated at25,-is operat1vely th h l is disposed ahnost nti l above-and associatedwith the shield, generally indicated at t th opposite sides of eyglassframe and 3 55,1nstead of the conventional eyeglasses l0 illusclear ofthe field of vision of the wearer and a {Hated m figure position inwhichit is disposed in front of the speslal frame 25 a 110 h f but Peyeglasses or equivalent, 'upportin frame and pr ses a pair of upperhalf-r ngs 25 oined at their covers th field f on f the wearer"Thusadjacent ends by a nose piece or bridge 2'! and a 1 1 i M eachhinged at one end with a shield of transparent material colored orIncludes temple bar 9 otherwise treated to modify light passing theregggig gg gi g ggg g g ii f gii through r.educe or f glarei under adponentof a-n ovel shield-and frame assembly for verse condit ons as whendriving into the sun or m ho d not wear 6 e Iasces being constrained tolook toward the sunas in perso W o y u playing or observing ames orOthBI O ItdOOI en- The shield l5 illustrated in Figure 6 may betertainment, the shield may be pulled. do n to its any onehof the formsshown m Flgures 3 to position, as indicated in clottrd lines in Figure 20 mclusve or any of the forms Shown m Figures covering the field ofvision of the wearer. Under more favorable cond tions the shield mav beraised to the po ition illustrated in full lin s in Figure 2 in which itis entirely clear of the field of vis on of the wearer but extendsforwardly" from the wearers foreheadabove the eye lasses or othersupporting frame'to modifv light die rected downwardly toward the eyesof the wearer. Obviously the shade may bead usteri to anv der siredposition between thetwo limiting. positions frameis" am pmvlded by makmgtwo pan of slits in each end portion l3 of the shield. One descrfl?edabove anposltohslof adj m n paircf slits 28 has substantially the sameposithe wide end portions of the shield cover. the mm as the slit ofFigure 3 and is effective t areas at the temple ends of the glasses toprevent back lighting of the eyeglass lenses, This feature in) narrowstrip 29 along the longitudinal edges of trated in Figure 1 may be anyof the various modifications shown in the above noted figures.

lar in shape to the form shown in Figure 3 and has spaced apart inneredges 16 and i7 and rounded end portions I8. In this shield, however, thattaching means for receiving the temple 9 to 14 inclusive. Likewise,the shield l5 i1lus- The mod fied shield shown in Figure 9 is simibarsof the eyeglass frame, or of the special separate from the materialofthe eye shielda is particularly valuable when the shield is Worn theStrip The other pair'of Sui-153a Separates a v Wlth dark or Sim glassesSince it effectively narrow strip 3! along its longitudinal edges from:

vents' bacl lighting of the lenses of the glasses t remainder of theShield sothat a temple bar from the sldes and can be inserted betweenthe strips 29 and 3! and ,The length ofthe slits permits the full range.(35 the-adjacent portions f t d, The t o of adjustment of the Shield asexplained above, strips are disposed at an acute angle to the longi--and the angular relationship ofthe is efieci tudinal extent of the eyeshield and are spaced tive to hold the Shie d in various positions ofadapart and substantially parallel to properly posijustment againstaccidental displacement; The ti t eye hield on the supporting frame. The

downwardly converging relationshipof the. two strip 3i nearest the endof the shield is lon slits of each pair of slits provides sufficientrethan the inner strip 29- so that the shieldcan be sis-tance todownward movement of the shield adjusted to change its inclinationoutwardly and. that the shield must be manually pulled downdownwardlyfrom'the forehead of th wearer andv-v and will not descend of its ownweight.

The length of the slit a d th spacing th the wearers field of visioncovered by the shield.

thereby varythe amount of the upper part of end thereof attaching meansfor receiving the corresponding temple bars of a supporting frame, suchas an eyeglass frame, each of said attaching means comprising two spacedapart slits in the material of said shield, both of said slits beingdisposed at different angles to the longitudinal extent of said shieldto properly position the shield on a supporting frame with the templebars of the frame passing through said slits, and the slits adjacent thecorresponding ends of said shield being longer than the complementaryslits to render said shield adjustable relative to the supporting frameupon which it is mounted.

4. An eye shield comprising an elongated strip of flexible sheetmaterial having adjacent each end thereof attaching means for receivingthe corresponding temple bars of a supporting frame, such as an eyeglassframe, each of said attaching means comprising a portion of trapeziumshape of the material of said shield separated at its ends from thematerial of the shield and having its ends disposed at different anglesto the longitudinal extent of the shield to properly position the shieldon the supporting frame with a temple bar of said frame extendingbetween said portion and the adjacent portion of said shield, the end ofsaid portion adjacent the corresponding end of said shield being longerthan the opposite end to render said shield adjustable relative to thesupporting frame upon which the shield is mounted.

5. An eye shield comprising an elongated strip of flexible sheetmaterial having adjacent each end thereof attaching means for receivingthe corresponding temple bars of a supporting frame such as an eyeglassframe, each of said attaching means comprising two spaced apart, narrowstrips separated along their longitudinal edges from the material ofsaid shield and disposed at different angles to the longitudinal extentof the shield to properly position the shield on a supporting frame withthe temple bars of the frame extending between said strips and theadjacent portions of the shield, the strip of each attaching meansnearest the end of the shield being longer than the other strip of theframe attaching means to render said shield adjustable relative to theframe upon which it is supported.

6. An eye shield comprising an elongated strip of flexible sheetmaterial having adjacent each end thereof attaching means for receivingthe corresponding temple bars of a supporting frame,

such as an eyeglass frame, said attaching means each comprising a pieceof thin material secured at opposite sides to said shield and spacedfrom the latter to receive a temple bar of a supporting frame betweensuch piece of material and the shield, said piece of material having itsends disposed at different angles to the longitudinal extent of theshield to properly position the shield on a supporting frame, and havingits end adjacent the corresponding end of said shield longer than itsopposite end to render said shield adjustable relative to the frame uponwhich it is supported.

7. An eye shield comprising an elongated strip of flexible sheetmaterial having adjacent each end thereof attaching means for receivingthe corresponding temple bars of a supporting frame, such as the frameof a pair of eyeglasses, each of said attaching means comprising an openended pocket with its ends disposed at different angles to thelongitudinal extent of the shield and with one end materially longerthan its opposite end, said shield having enlarged end portions disposedat an angle to the intermediate portion thereof to overlie the templesof the wearer of the shield and prevent back lighting from striking therear surfaces of eyeglass lenses carried by the shield supporting frame.

8. An eye shield comprising an elongated strip of thin flexible materialof light filtering or light obstructing character having attaching meansadjacent each end thereof for receiving the corresponding temple bars ofa supporting frame, such as an eyeglass frame, each of said attachingmeans comprising two spaced apart slits in the material of said shieldproviding between them a strip overlying the corresponding temple barand disposed at different angles to the longitudinal center line of saidshield and so disposed that the inner slit of each attaching meansimpinges the corresponding temple bar hinge to hold the shield againstoutward movement relative to the frame, the outer slit of each attachingmeans being longer than the corresponding inner slit to provide freedomof tilting movement of adjustment of the shield relative to thesupporting frame.

ORVILLE A. GROVE.

No references cited.

